Sofia Vergara Forbes' top-earning TV actress
Sofia Vergara attends the Costume Institute Benefit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (May 7, 2012) Credit: Getty Images
Forbes magazine Wednesday named "Modern Family" star Sofia Vergara as the top-earning actress on American television.
Vergara, 40, who plays Gloria Delgado-Pritchett on the two-time Emmy-winning sitcom, made an estimated $19 million during the past 12 months, displacing last year's chart-topper, reality star Kim Kardashian. Vergara's earnings came from the hit TV show, a Kmart clothing line, endorsements and the marketing/production company Latin World Entertainment, which she and partner Luis Balaguer founded 16 years ago and claims 2011 revenue of $27 million.
She also appeared in three movies in the past year -- "The Smurfs" and "New Year's Eve" (both 2011) and "The Three Stooges" (2012) -- and provided voices in two animated features.
The Colombian-born actress scored endorsement deals in two languages, with English spots for Cover Girl and Diet Pepsi, and Spanish ads for Burger King, Comcast and State Farm. And while Kmart would not comment on the specifics of her contract, Forbes reported that the discount department-store chain paid a $7 million advance for her clothing line.
Latin World Entertainment, which counts Disney and Paramount among its clients, launched the YouTube channel NuevOn in April and reportedly sold out its ad inventory to Procter & Gamble through 2013. Her company is soon launching an e-commerce platform, NuevoMall, with the TV-network Univision.
Vergara, who has two Emmy nominations for best supporting actress, recently reunited with her on-again off-again boyfriend of two years, Florida businessman Nick Loeb.THE TOP FIVE
1. Sofia Vergara - $19 million
2. Kim Kardashian - $18 million
3. Eva Longoria - $15 million
4. Bethenny Frankel - $12 million
5. Khloe Kardashian Odom - $11 million.
